Astronomy For Dummies - Maran Stephen P.

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The trip takes about 250 million years to complete once, and the duration of the trip is called the galactic year.

      ❯❯ Moves with the Milky Way in a trajectory around the center of the Local Group of Galaxies, a couple of dozen galaxies in our neck of the universe.

      ❯❯ Moves through the universe with the Local Group as part of the Hubble Flow, the general expansion of space caused by the Big Bang.

      The Big Bang is the event that gave rise to the universe and set space itself expanding at a furious rate. Detailed theories about the Big Bang explain many observed phenomena and have successfully predicted some that hadn’t been observed before the theories were circulated. (For more about the Big Bang and other aspects of the universe, check out Part 4.)

      Remember Ginger Rogers? She did everything Fred Astaire did when they danced in the movies, and she did it all backward. Like Ginger and Fred, the Moon follows all the motions of Earth (although not backward), except for Earth’s rotation; the Moon rotates more slowly, about once a month. And it performs its tasks while also revolving around Earth (which it does about once a month).

      And you, as a person on Earth, participate in the motions of rotation, revolution, galactic orbiting, Local Group cruising, and cosmic expansion. You do all that while you drive to work, whether you know it or not. Ask your boss for a little consideration the next time you run a few minutes late.

Chapter 2

      Join the Crowd: Skywatching Activities and Resources

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      ❯❯ Joining astronomy clubs, using the Internet, downloading apps, and more

      ❯❯ Exploring observatories and planetariums

      ❯❯ Enjoying star parties, eclipse tours and cruises, telescope motels, and dark sky parks

      Astronomy has universal appeal. The stars have fascinated people everywhere from prehistoric times into the modern age. Early observations of the sky led to all sorts of theories about the universe and attributions of power and purpose to the movements of stars, planets, and comets. As you look up at the sky, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide watch with you. When it comes to skywatching, you’re not alone. Many people, organizations, publications, websites, smartphone apps, and other resources are at your disposal to help you get started, to keep you going, and to help you participate in the great work of explaining the universe.

      In this chapter, I introduce you to these resources and give you suggestions on how you can get started. The rest is up to you. So join in!

      

When you know the resources, organizations, facilities, and equipment that can help you enjoy astronomy more deeply, you can move comfortably to the science of astronomy itself – the nature of the objects and phenomena out there in deep space. I describe the equipment you need to get started in Chapter 3.

      You’re Not Alone: Astronomy Clubs, Websites, Smartphone Apps, and More

      You have plenty of readily available information, organizations, people, and facilities to help you get started and remain active in astronomy. You can join associations and activities to help researchers keep track of stars and planets. You can attend astronomy club meetings, lectures, and instructional sessions, which allow you to share telescopes and viewing sites to enjoy the sky with others. You also can find magazines, websites, books, computer programs, and smartphone apps with basic information on astronomy and current events in the sky.

Joining an astronomy club for star-studded company

      The best way to break into astronomy without undue effort is to join an astronomy club. Clubs hold meetings where old hands pass along tips on techniques and equipment to beginners and scientists present talks. Members likely know where to get a good deal on a used telescope or binoculars and which products on the market are worth buying. (See Chapter 3 for more.)

      Even better, astronomy clubs sponsor observing meetings, usually on weekend nights and occasionally on special dates during a meteor shower or another special event. An observing meeting is the best place to find out about the practice of astronomy and the equipment you need. You don’t have to bring a telescope; most folks are happy to give you a look through theirs. Just wear sensible shoes, bring mittens and a hat for the cool night air, and put on a smile!

      If you live in an urban area, chances are good that your night sky is bright. You can find better observational conditions if you travel to a dark spot in the country. Your local club probably has a good observing site, and when the members converge on that lonely place, you can enjoy safety in numbers.

      

If you live in a good-size city or a college town, you can probably find an astronomy club nearby. If you live in the United States, find the club(s) near you with the locator form of the NASA Night Sky Network, at nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov. Enter a city name, and a calendar pops up with the current month’s astronomy activities in that area.

      You can also check out the website of America’s “club of clubs,” the Astronomical League, at www.astroleague.org. Browse the list of more than 240 member societies, arranged by state.

      For a more global approach, visit the Sky & Telescope website, at www.skyandtelescope.com (just click the “Clubs and Organizations” tab in the Community menu to find clubs and organizations worldwide). The site lists over 20 astronomy clubs in the state of Missouri, for example, and 9 organizations, including planetariums and an observatory, in the nation of New Zealand.

      GAZING AROUND THE WORLD: A SAMPLING OF ASTRONOMY CLUBS

      The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (www.astrosociety.org), with headquarters in San Francisco, publishes the quarterly digital magazine Mercury for amateurs. It holds an annual meeting that moves around the western United States and sometimes goes as far east as Boston or Toronto. The society also offers numerous educational materials in astronomy to teachers.

      Do you live in Canada? The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada has 29 Centres, which is a fancy name for astronomy clubs. Professionals from the nearest university often get involved with the Centre’s activities. To find a Centre near you, consult the RASC website, www.rasc.ca.

      In the United Kingdom, the venerable British Astronomical Association, founded in 1890, is still going strong. Its website is britastro.org. And the Society for Popular Astronomy, billing itself as “Britain’s brightest astronomical Society,” features sky event news and tweets about planets, bright meteors, and more on its colorful website, www.popastro.com.

      Most other countries have astronomy clubs, too. Astronomy is truly a universal passion.

Checking websites, magazines, software, and apps

      Finding out about astronomy is easy. You can choose from a wide range of resources, including websites, apps for smartphones and tablet computers, magazines, and desktop computer software. The following sections offer some tips for finding the best information.

       Traveling through cyberspace

      The Net offers sites on every topic in astronomy, and the resources are increasing at, well, an astronomical rate! You can find many websites listed throughout this book; if you want more information on planets, comets, meteors, or eclipses, the web offers good sites on every topic.

      

The editors of Sky & Telescope magazine maintain one of the best websites,

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